Your Security is our Business

I’ll Be A Sunbeam

Walking along the overgrowth, less-used trails which were hardest hit by the near-tornado storm damage.

Initially, the briers, brambles and wild overgrowth were a wriggly wet struggle to pass through due to the earlier thunderstorm. But shortly thereafter, the walk turned into a scrambling climb over downed trees and fallen limbs. All this precipitation and still, the streams were nothing more than a mere trickle and complete stagnation in some places. All this decay was having the opposite effect on the various fungi and the usual proliferation of poison ivy which never suffers.

It wasn’t until returning round, that the most magnificent and wondrous discovery occurred. There, beaming beautifully down through the newly opened canopy was a striking sunbeam bursting full of Ethereal light. What had seemed mere overgrowth and inconvenience to me was now bowed down and removed sufficiently to allow the light of life to enter the forest.
That moment got me pondering “What blocks the sun’s rays?”
As the forest reaches maturity, the canopy crowds out fresh new life and stunts growth for others. Some species die out.

We need storms in the natural and spiritual in order to remove extraneous*** over growth in order to achieve fullness and beauty.***Extraneous – Not constituting a vital element or part;
Inessential; not belonging;
unrelated to that to which it is added or in which it is contained;
coming from without; of external origin: interference!

What appears “healthy” in man’s eyes, blocks the Son’s beams of light, life and love.
As these extraneous “works” block the sun, it hardens life and ultimately signals death for any that can not survive or thrive in darkness.
I want to live my life like that moment – embracing the storms that come to sweep away the extraneous so that my heart can shine with His light.

The overgrowth again reminds me of a man made dam holding back the best that God has for us.
Man in his reasoning, thinks to control God’s goodness yet in his willful presumption forgets there is no harnessing His power. The water pressure much like the forest canopy must give way and bow.
Forest management like water hydraulics is flawed in its design. Rather than supporting life, it discourages it. Only the Creator knows.

Man in his arrogance cries for “more of God” yet doesn’t yield to His Sovereignty. It is man’s unbelief in “using” the measure of faith given on his own selfish lusts. We don’t need more faith, we need to rid ourselves of unbelief!

The root of unbelief is pride. Pride places human limitations on God like the dam (reservoir) and puts self-reliance ahead of trusting God.

We don’t own God! We are His creation. In humility bow before Him and He will raise you up in living faith.

Jesus says that faith the size of a mustard seed is sufficient to move mountains.
Pure, unadulterated faith. No mixture, no contamination with the “stinking thinking” of man’s way of doing things. Instead 100% DNA of the love and life of God.
This when placed in the fertile soil, well-watered by His Word, soaking in His Presence grows and brings forth abundant life.

Heavenly Father, replace “my”-sufficiency with God-dependency. Make me utterly reliant on You in everything! As I humbly bow before You as King, cut out all pride so that unbelief withers on the vine. Let Your light and love flow through me giving You glory, honor and praise. AMEN.
Nellie Talbot wrote “I’ll Be a Sunbeam” in 1900. While rack­ing her brain for ma­ter­i­al for her Sun­day school class in rur­al Mis­sou­ri, she thought to her­self, “How can you say there’s no­thing to teach about when you have the sun and the sky and the trees and the flow­ers!” Hence the theme of this song.

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam,
To shine for Him each day;
In every way try to please Him,
At home, at school, at play.

A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam;
A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
I’ll be a sunbeam for Him.

Jesus wants me to be loving,
And kind to all I see;
Showing how pleasant and happy
His little one can be.

I will ask Jesus to help me
To keep my heart from sin,
Ever reflecting His goodness,
And always shine for Him.
I’ll be a sunbeam for Jesus;
I can if I but try;
Serving Him moment by moment,
Then live with Him on high.